After an incredible performance from Alyssa McElheny last night to win the Elite 15 Women’s Singles, many of the same athletes lined up once again in Stockholm to get back to work. Weeks, Tafuto, Wietrzyk, Bent, Proctor, Sheridan, Arning and Schulz all made their way back out onto the track.
Katherine Fahsbender and Morgan Schulz were racing in a team of three, as half of their team were pregnant.
Let’s see who was competing.
Elite 15 Women’s Doubles Field
1 Lauren Weeks & Vivian Tafuto USA / USA
2 Joanna Wietrzyk & Jess Pettrow AUS / AUS
3 Sinéad Bent & Lucy Procter GBR / GBR
4 Meg Martin & Calypso Sheridan AUS / AUS
5 Ida Mathilde Steensgaard & Elli Stenfors DEN / FIN
6 Charlie Searle & Lauren Stockley GBR / WAL
7 Jade Skillen & Kat Parnell GBR / GBR
8 Melanie Maurer & Jennifer Nikolaus SUI / GER
9 Seka Arning & Manuela García GER / ESP
10 Danél Louw & Vicky MacIntosh RSA / GBR
11 Katherine Fahsbender & Morgan Schulz USA / USA
12 Alandra Greenlee & Kris Rugloski USA / USA
13 Jana Lebenstedt & Viola Oberländer GER / GER
14 Zara Piergianni & Gabriella Moriarty GBR / GBR
15 Margot & Charlotte Vandenlindenloof BEL / BEL
The Race
Weeks, as usual, went straight out in front, closely followed by Wietrzyk. It was a carbon copy of the race from last night.
Ski Erg
Weeks and Tafuto were first onto the ski erg. The US team edging out the Aussie pairing of Wietrzyk and Pettrow.
Bent and Proctor from England were in fourth. Each team regularly split up the calories in order to maximize power output and speed. Arning turned up the pace as she ventured into the second run, reminding everyone that the often underestimated duo of her and Manuela García is a force to be reckoned with.
Weeks and Tafuto complemented each other well as a doubles team with their respective strengths and areas of expertise. Tafuto also looked relaxed running behind Weeks, which was an impressive feat in itself.
Sled Push
The leading US team were first to, and first to finish, the sled push. The Aussies finished and started to chase them down. Bent and Proctor had moved up into third.
Tip: Motivation can run even higher when competing as a team so use that to your advantage. Make sure you know how to push your teammate, what kind of talk works best. Test it in training so that you can both go even harder when you need to flip the switch for each other.
The fastest time for the sled push was 01:30 by another Aussie team, Martin and Sheridan. Sheridan coming off the back of a phenomenal performance in the Elite 15 Singles the previous night.
Sled Pull
A yellow card was awarded to Tafuto, however they finished the station clean. They decided to complete each length individually.
Wietrzyk and Pettrow made up 9 seconds on the leaders. As the teams emerged back onto the track the pack was still bunched up and close together. Proctor and Bent actually crossed the finish line in first place last year, however due to their penalty they dropped to second position.
Burpee Broad Jumps
Weeks kept a very low body position as she landed each time. Sheridan and Martin moved up into third after a fast time.
Tip: If you are a shorter athlete then stay low and cycle quickly through your burpee reps to minimize your fatigue. In HYROX you don’t need to fully extend your hips, so don’t waste any unnecessary effort.
During the next run Wietrzyk and Pettrow dropped down into fifth.
Rowing
Weeks and Tafuto were still looking strong at this point, and it was becoming clear that they could maintain their impressive pace. Bent and Proctor were next. They continued their quest to chase them down the leaders.
Tip: Pay attention to your straps, especially when switching between the different members of your team. Having your feet properly strapped in does make a difference.
Gaps started to open up in the pack on the run following the rowing.
Farmers Carry
Sinead Bent went off at her characteristically quick pace, except this time any time the kettlebells were dropped, there was someone there to pick them up. Charlie Searle and Lauren Stockley managed to pass Wietrzyk and Pettrow during this station.
Tip: Practice the Farmers Carry together. This will help you to understand exactly how each of you both approach the movement. Keep your core tight at all times and try to avoid slumping your shoulders forwards.
Sandbag Lunges
At this point in the race, Wietrzyk and Pettrow looked like they were in trouble if they were serious about wanted to secure a podium spot. Coming out of the sandbag lunge station, Bent wanted a water bottle but dropped it, she had to sprint back and collect it, as littering is not allowed under any circumstances during the race.
Stockley put in an impressive shift on the lunges as well.
Tip: Practice the method you use to pass the sandbags to each other. Bent and Proctor placed their heads on each others back and rolled the sandbag downwards and backwards onto the shoulders of their team mate. Test a few different methods and find out what works best for you both collectively.
Weeks and Tafuto looked unstoppable as they started the wall balls and Weeks went hard into the first set. She hit an easy 20 reps with zero no reps. Bent and Proctor were 20 reps behind as they started the station.
Searle and Stockley were in third, followed by Wietrzyk and Pettrow. The South African and British team Louw and MacIntosh followed.
Weeks and Tafuto wrapped up their wall balls and crossed the finish line hand in hand to mark their victory. Bent and Proctor finished in second again.
